TALLAHASSEE, FL – Today, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a letter to the Miss America Organization and the Miss Florida Scholarship Program cautioning they may be violating the state’s deceptive advertising law for promoting a female-only competition but then “surreptitiously allowing certain men to compete.”

The letter stems from the Miss Florida Scholarship Program not allowing Kayleigh Bush, Miss North Florida 2025, to enjoy any of the benefits that came with her crown after refusing to sign a Miss America contract that falsely defines “female” to include gender-confused males. Bush was crowned in September 2024 and was denied the benefits of the title that November after objecting to the false definition as contrary to her religious beliefs and Florida law.

Ultimately, the contract requires female beauty candidates to agree to compete against biological males – who have been subjected to irreversible surgical procedures as minor boys – and agree that these males are “female.”

In the letter, AG Uthmeier noted that nothing in Miss America’s public-facing representations defined “girls,” “women,” or “female” as anything other than biological females, nor was there any indication that a “subset of males” would be allowed to compete until the private contract was presented. After preparing and investing in the competition and winning, Bush’s “joy was short-lived,” the letter reads, because she then needed to sign a contract that “redefined female” and allowed men to compete against her whereby her refusal would bar her from further competition.

"Consequently, by promoting their competitions as female-only and the surreptitiously allowing certain men to compete, Miss America and Miss Florida are engaging in a wrongful bait-and-switch advertising scheme targeting young women,” wrote AG Uthmeier. “These organizations cannot operate under the false and misleading title of ‘Miss’ if indeed they are open to male participants.”

AG Uthmeier stated the “bait-and-switch tactic” may violate Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. He requested the organizations specify by May 1, 2026, what “corrective actions” they have taken to “make clear to the public” whether their pageants are solely for females or whether they are also open to a subset of males that identify as female. 

The contract language states: 

2.3.5.1. Sex. The Applicant must be a Female. “Female” means a born female or an individual who has fully completed Sex Reassignment Surgery via Vaginoplasty (from male to female) with supporting medical documentation and records. Supporting medical documentation must be in the form of the certification attached, signed by the surgeon who performed the surgery and notarized, along with a copy of board certification and a current medical license. No alternative gender affirming surgery will suffice as acceptable in place of a Vaginoplasty. (emphasis added) 

On April 24, 2025, Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to the Miss America Organization and Miss Florida Scholarship Program after they refused and denied Bush’s appeals to reconsider the contract language and restore her title. However, Liberty Counsel’s demand letter was ignored.

Bush was later honored by the She Leads America organization with the 2025 Young Christian Woman of Distinction award on October 10, 2025. She Leads America also crowned her as “Miss She Leads America,” and her award was entered into the Congressional Record for her courage to stand for her convictions. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “Both Miss America and Miss Florida organizations advertise their competitions are for women. Allowing gender-confused males is deceptive and misleading. After Kayleigh Bush won her crown, she was told to sign a contract that included male under the definition of female. Kayleigh Bush chose courage over the crown and refused to accept the lie that boys can become girls. In doing so, she lost the ability to compete in Miss Florida and could not fully enjoy the benefits of her title. This harmful gender ideology must end, and it has no place anywhere, especially in women’s pageants.” 

For more information about Kayleigh Bush’s story, visit LC.org/crown.

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